Understanding Route Difficulty

Hiking & Climbing Class Ratings

The class ratings used throughout RockyMountainSummits.com are based on the Yosemite Decimal System. They provide a quick way to describe how a route progresses from ordinary hiking to scrambling, exposed terrain and technical rock climbing.

Classes 1–5

How I use the Yosemite Decimal System on this site.

1

Trail Hiking

The hike is on trail. Hands are not needed for balance.

2

Cross-Country

The hike is cross-country and hands are occasionally needed for balance.

3

Scrambling

Requires use of hands. Handholds and footholds are plentiful and easily found. A fall would generally cause minor injury.

4

Exposed Scrambling

Handholds and footholds are easily found, but exposure is significant. A fall could cause serious injury or be fatal. Some climbers may want a rope.

5

Rock Climbing

Technical rock climbing where a rope and protection are typically used to protect against a serious fall.

Snow Climb Ratings

A simple slope-angle system used on RockyMountainSummits.com.

Easy< 30°
Moderate30–45°
Steep> 45°
Important: These ratings describe general route difficulty, not overall risk. Weather, snow, ice, exposure, route-finding, rockfall, altitude, individual experience and other factors can substantially change the difficulty and danger of any mountain route. Use current conditions and your own judgment when making decisions in the mountains.